PM update: Still sitting here addressing sticker envelopes. Love all the emails coming in, with people sharing their feelings about WildSnow.com and giving me links to their ski touring trip reports and such.
The death of climber David Worthington after a fall on Colorado 14er Humboldt Peak was shocker this past Monday. Various accounts say Worthington and a friend had stashed their skis and snowshoes below the summit, then hiked to the top and spent the night there. In rocky terrain Worthington took a “tumbling ragdoll” fall of about 200 feet during a glissade during their descent the next day, received multiple injuries, and his partner had to leave him to get help. He was rescued alive but died soon after for unknown reasons. A detailed account of the rescue is available here. Condolences to Worthington’s family and friends from us here at WildSnow.com
It comes as a surprise to many that an accident like Worthington’s could happen on Humboldt, one of the easiest to climb fourteeners in the state. Until we know more details the take-home lesson is that it’s easier than most people think to trip over a cliff or ledge, and such terrain exists on almost any Colorado mountain. If a sliding fall on snow instigated the event, let it remind us how dangerous snow can be and how important the use of an ice axe is (apparently neither Worthington nor his partner had ice axes or any other means of performing a self arrest to stop a fall). Beyond that, many mountaineers agree that the ideal group size for mountain rambling (not roped climbing) is three since one person can stay with an injured friend while the other goes out for help. It’s frequently much easier to come up with a duo for a trip (as we often do), or even go solo, but three is indeed a good number if you’re looking to hedge your bets. Of course it is unknown if having a person stay with Worthington would have changed the outcome, but one can only imagine what it was like for his partner to leave him on the side of a mountain by himself. An extremely tough situation.
And yes, global warming is in the news as always. Check out this article in the Denver Post about how savvy investors can win big by betting on climate change. The writer also mentions how Colorado resorts, since they’re higher and colder, could do well in a globally warming world. I’d add that a warmer climate might also bring Colorado a more avalanche stable snowpack. It’s politically incorrect to say anything positive about global warming, interesting a newspaper broke the rules. They redeem themselves, however, by stating that “…critics say global warming could shorten the ski season and increase the cost of generating manmade snow.”
Let’s just say Arapaho Basin has it going on when it comes to altitude that compensates for global warming. Also, Aspen and Vail better move their base areas a bit higher so destination skiers don’t have to look at dead grass and mud out of their condo windows during Christmas vacation.
Lastly, how about a spirit boost for you rando skiing fans? Ski Press published a detailed analysis of this spring’s SIA skiing retail sales numbers. Buried in the article is this interesting gem:
“RANDONNEE/AT EQUIPMENT SHOWING SMALL GROWTH
Nordic ski equipment sales decreased 26% in dollars this season over last. Nordic skis fell 30% in dollars while Nordic boot dollars decreased 25%. Telemark ski equipment sales fell 31% in dollars.While still a tiny category, randonee/AT equipment dollar sales are up 8% over last season.”
Looks like we’d better get more stickers made. “Louie, increase that order by 8 percent, and add the word randonee!”
WildSnow.com publisher emeritus and founder Lou (Louis Dawson) has a 50+ years career in climbing, backcountry skiing and ski mountaineering. He was the first person in history to ski down all 54 Colorado 14,000-foot peaks, has authored numerous books about about backcountry skiing, and has skied from the summit of Denali in Alaska, North America’s highest mountain.
